A low pressure system that formed in the Gulf of Mexico spread snow across New Castle County and a heavier combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain across Kent and Sussex Counties. Accumulations averaged around two to three inches in New Castle County and two inches or less in Kent and Sussex Counties. But in addition to the snow, Kent and Sussex counties also received some sleet and up to one-half an inch of ice that accrued onto exposed surfaces. Travel on untreated roads was very dangerous. Numerous accidents occurred including one fatal accident near Selbyville (Sussex County). Precipitation started as snow across the entire state during the evening of the 29th. The snow changed to sleet and freezing rain during the late evening in Sussex County. By midnight EST on the 30th, precipitation was falling as mainly freezing rain in interior Sussex County. Along the immediate coast, temperatures rose to the freezing mark and precipitation transitioned from freezing rain to plain rain. Precipitation changed to snow during the afternoon of the 30th before it ended. In Kent County, precipitation mixed with sleet and freezing rain around Midnight EST on the 30th. Mixed precipitation continued (mainly freezing rain in the southern part of the county) into the morning of the 30th. Precipitation then changed back to snow in the county by Noon EST and ended as snow during the afternoon. Precipitation fell as mainly snow throughout the event in New Castle County. The snow ended around Noon EST on the 30th.  During the event, there were about 70 minor accidents in Sussex County and 20 accidents in Kent County. On the 31st, traveling was still hazardous in Sussex County and there were 30 additional accidents. An 85-year-old man died when he lost control of his station wagon on West Line Road (near Selbyville), slid across the snow covered westbound lane, left the road, struck a ditch embankment which helped flip the vehicle onto its roof. The vehicle then slid into a drainage ditch and became submerged. An 83-year-old Sussex County man was seriously injured after his vehicle slid off the road after driving onto a patch of ice and struck a fence and tree. The icy road conditions caused many Sussex County school districts to close on Monday the 31st; the ones that were open had delayed openings.  Specific snow accumulations included 2.8 inches at the New Castle County Airport, 2.3 inches in Bear (New Castle County), 2.0 inches in Bowers Beach and Dover (Kent County) and 1.5 inches in Lewes (Sussex County). Specific ice accretions included 0.5 inches in Milton (Sussex County) and 0.25 inches in Selbyville (Sussex County) and Milford (Kent County). The low pressure system that caused the wintry weather formed in the northern Gulf of Mexico on the morning of the 29th. It move northeast and during the early evening of the 29th, it was located near the Florida Panhandle. Meanwhile a second low pressure system was forming along the South Carolina coast and at 1 a.m. EST on the 30th, it was located near Charleston. This low became the primary low pressure system and moved northeast to near Wilmington, North Carolina at 7 a.m. EST on the 30th. It moved northeast along coastal North Carolina and exited the state near Elizabeth City during the afternoon of the 30th. From there the low pressure system moved eastnortheast into the Atlantic Ocean. This eastward jog prevented heavier precipitation from moving farther north into Delaware.

Winter Weather in DELAWARE BEACHES, DELAWARE
From 29-JAN-05 21:00:00 to 30-JAN-05 12:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Weather in NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE
From 29-JAN-05 21:00:00 to 30-JAN-05 17:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in KENT, DELAWARE
From 29-JAN-05 21:00:00 to 30-JAN-05 16:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE
From 29-JAN-05 21:00:00 to 30-JAN-05 17:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER